Pencil-sharpener.



F. ALEXANDER.

PENCIL SHABPBNBR.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.Z,1909'.

Patented May 31, 1910.

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To all whom it may corn/cern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK ALEX- ANDER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Brooklyn, Kings county, in the State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pencil- Sharpeners,of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description.

This invention relates to an improved automatic pencil sharpener, theobject being to provide such a device that will, after a pencil has beenplaced therein, automatically cause the cutter to feed or advance in amanner to cut away the wood, leaving an exposed sharpened lead.

To produce a marketable device of this character, I have eliminatedcomplicated parts and instead utilize simple devices that are cheaplymanufactured, strong and durable.

I will now proceed'to describe my invention, and finally claim the novelfeatures of which it is composed, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing' forming part hereof, wherein Figure 1 is a topplan view of my improved device; Fig. 2 is a vertical central sectionalview thereof, certain minor parts being shown in elevation; and Fig. 3is a cross-sectional View taken on a line z 0 in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing 1 indicates the casing of my improvedSharpener, which is provided with a bracket 2 carrying a clampscrew 3,which is provided for the purpose` of securing the device to a suitablesupport such as a desk, table or shelf.

In one end of the casing 1, I rotatably mount a bushing 4, which isadapted to act as an adjustable chuck to hold a pencil. In order toadapt the bushing for the purposes of a chuck, I cut the outer end ofthe said bushing as at 4a. To cause the severed end of the bushing toclose, I taper the same as at 5, thread the tapered end as at 6, andmount a thumb-nut 7 on said threaded end. It is quite obvious that, whenthe thumbnut 7 is operated to move inwardly, the severed end of thebushing will come together and firmly grip the pencil which is carriedby the said bushing. The severed end of the bushing will openautomatically when the thumb-nut is moved outwardly, due to theresiliency of the tangs 8.

As the bushing 4 is intended to rotate, I mount upon the inner endthereof a gear 9,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. April 2,

Patented May 31, 1910.

1909. Serial No. 487,440.

' which is adapted to mesh'with, and to be rotated by, a pinion 10, thesaid pinion being carried by a rotatable shaft 11. The shaft 11 isrotatably mounted in the end members 12 and 13 of the casing 1.

Adjacent the end opposite to the pinion 10, of the shaft 11, I secure a`iiinion 14 which meshes with an idle gear 15, the said idle gear beingadapted to mesh with, and to rotate a gear 1G, which in turn is carriedby a spindle 17.

Upon that part of the spindle 17, which is within the casing l, Islidably mount a cone 18, which in turn is provided with cutters 19,positioned at an angle adapted to cause the said cutters to cut away thewood of a pencil without tearing it. Between one end of the cone 18 andgear 16, and upon the spindle 17, I mount a coil spring 20, which isadapted to advance or feed the cone 18 outwardly, or toward the bushing4, during the operation of sharpening a pencil.

To catch the chips of wood, and lead dust, yI provide a drawer 21, whichis removably retained in the casing 1. The top of t-he casing 1 isprovided with an opening 22, which is normally closed by a removablecover 23.

To sharpen a pencil, I place it in the chuck or bushing 4 and turn thethumb-nut 7, to cause the tangs 8 to come together and firmly grip thepencil (see dot-ted lines in Fig. 2). vWhen I place the pencil in thechuck, I push it inwardly, not only enough to impinge the cutters 19 ofthe cone 18, but also enough to force the cone backwardly to the fullextent, thereby placing the spring 20 under an increased tension. Thedevice will then be in condition to full its function.

After a pencil has been placed in position as above described, I rotatethe shaft 11 by means of the handle 24, whereby the cone 18 and clutch 4will be rotated in opposite directions. The cone 18 is rotatablyconnected to the spindle 17 by means of a threaded pin 25, which isadapted to enter, and slide within a key-way 26, in the said spindle. Asthe same is turned the cut-ters will cut away the wood from the lead ofthe pencil. As the wood is cut away the spring 20 will gradually forcethe cone outwardly, thereby effecting an automatic feed or advancement.-The cutters will continue to cutuntil the pencil is sharpened toconform to the shape of the cone 18.

One of the novel features of my improved Sharpener is the fact that thepencil is held against longitudinal movement, and the cutters caused tofeed automatically, whereby the necessity of feeding the pencil by handis obviated. Another feature of my device is that the pencil andSharpener are rotated in opposite directions, whereby the act ofsharpening is quickly accomplished.

In the usual form of pencil Sharpeners the pencil is held and pressedtoward the sharpening element by the hand. My improved device obviatesthis necessity.

Having now described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is In a pencil Sharpener, a rotatable chuck, n gearcarried by said chuck, a rotatable FREDERICK ALEXANDER.

Witnesses:

EsTELLE HAMBURGER, EDWARD A. JARvIs.

